“Okay.”
“Now take off your shorts. No way you can be comfortable sleeping in them.” He disappeared into a huge walk-in closet, then returned a minute later holding a T-shirt. “You can wear this tonight. Turn around.”
I turned to face away from him and he quickly removed my shirt, then unhooked my bra.
“Put the shirt on.”
I did. It was incredibly soft and smelled like fabric softener. Once I was decently covered, I turned to face him only to see that he had turned away and was folding my clothes, placing them on the nightstand.
I swallowed hard, feeling a little emotional that he was taking such good care of me. Rarely had anyone ever done things like this for me. Without expecting something in return, of course. Not even most of the foster parents I’d had.
“Are you covered?” he asked, his back still to me.
“I am.”
When he faced me, I noticed he wasn’t smiling. “Good girl. Now come on.”
He raised the thick brown comforter, pulling back the cream-colored sheet with it, and I glanced up at him. “Are you sure this is okay? I feel like I’m imposing.”
“I invited you.”
He had, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t putting him out.
“Now get in.”
So bossy. For whatever reason, a twinge of excitement fizzed in my veins. Not that I intended to do anything about it, but I did acknowledge I liked Master Parker’s directness.
I crawled into the bed and relaxed onto the silky sheets and the downy-soft pillow. The faint smell of Master Snowden wafted around me. A warm, woodsy scent that tickled my nostrils and had my body relaxing. Since his scent was present, I figured that had to mean they slept in Master Parker’s bed together.
The thought had warmth pooling in my lower parts.
I glanced from Master Parker to the door, then back.
“What’s on your mind, little rebel?” he asked, his voice soft as he leaned over me.
I smiled at the nickname. “Little rebel?”
“Are you denying it?”
No. No, I was not. I shook my head, then said, “I was…kind of thinking it’ll be weird to stay here by myself. Would you…uh…maybe stay here, too?” My eyes darted toward the door again. “I could always sleep on the couch so you can have your bed.”
“You’ll be safe,” he said. “We’ll be right next door. And I’ll be back first thing in the morning.”
“Oh.” I nodded, my eyes closing as another yawn escaped me. “Okay.”
To my surprise, he leaned over, his lips pressing softly against my forehead. “Good night, little rebel. Promise not to steal the fine china.”
“You don’t have fine china,” I whispered, my eyes closed.
“I know.”
And it was only seconds later that I was out like a light.
Six
JUSTIN
THAT GIRL WAS GOING TO be a handful, I could already feel it.
Surprisingly, I wasn’t put off by the thought.
In fact, I was looking forward to the feisty rebel and her sassy little mouth. I could only imagine how far she would push me when she was at a hundred percent.
However, that wasn’t going to be tonight.
It seemed the second her head hit the pillow, she was out. Not wanting to freak her out by standing over her and watching her sleep, I flipped off the lamp, then turned off the lights in the other rooms, set the security system, then locked the door behind me. I was telling the truth when I said she would be fine. In fact, she would likely still be unconscious when I came back in the morning. She’d evidently had a very trying day. And if she happened to wake up and need something, Ben’s apartment was right next door, so I wasn’t worried.
As I walked to my pup’s door, I realized I wasn’t the least bit tired.
I probably should’ve been since I’d been up since six. I’d had a long day, plus a rather eventful evening, and it was already close to two in the morning, but going to sleep wasn’t in my plan. I had something else on my agenda before I intended to call it a night.
That something else was my submissive.
The door was unlocked, so I let myself in, closing and locking it behind me. When I turned, I found Ben sitting on the plush, cream sofa waiting for me, his golden eyes trailing me as I moved into the room.
“You’re still dressed,” I said as I headed toward the highboy that held a decanter of scotch and two glasses.
“I am.”
I smiled to myself as I took the crystal decanter and removed the lid. “The girl’s out. Head hit the pillow and she was practically snoring.”
I poured two fingers of scotch into each of the glasses, then carried one over to him.
“I assume you have a plan for her tomorrow?” Ben asked as he took the glass from me.
I turned away from him. “I’d rather discuss that in the morning. For the rest of the evening—or morning, as it may be—you are the only thing I intend to focus on.”
